South Pekin, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 883, South Pekin's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

South Pekin is a small community located in Illinois, within Tazewell County. The total population is 883. It ranks as the 740th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in South Pekin is 33.3 years. This is 15% lower than the state median of 39.0 years. With 28.4% of the population under 18, South Pekin has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in South Pekin is $67,176. This is 19% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 17% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.5%. This is 11% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 7.7%. This is 32% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $106,400. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x, South Pekin is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 82.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

South Pekin has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (92.1% vs 58.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population (5.5%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

12.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 68% lower than the state rate of 37.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for South Pekin, Illinois is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Illinois state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.